Leather substitute



April 22., 1941. L, E @LINER 27,239,245

. LEATHER SUBSTITUTE Filed April 5, 1959 rib Lo i aline? Patented Apr.22, 1941 I A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,239,245 l LEATHER SUBSTITUTEL eo E. Oliner, New York, N. Y.

Application April 5, 1939, Serial No. 266,165

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a composite flexible material and moreparticularly to a material which may be used as a leather substitute in.the manufacture of articles generally 'cox1- may be controlled, andwhich is permanently l waterproof. The material of the present inventionalso has a high degree of flexibility and without the possibility ofcracking the surface of the material as is common in leather substitutesheretofore on the market.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a leathersubstitute formed of a composite material which will more readilyreceive and retain an outer surface finish which is highly ornamentalwithout sacrificing the durability of the material.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention reside in certainnovel features of the construction, arrangement and combination of partswhich will-be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointedout in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing forming a part of this sp1 :ication, and in which:

Figure 1 is an illustration in perspective of a small portion of theleather substitute with some of the layers broken away;

Figure 2 is a transverse section through a modication of the leathersubstitute shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section through a further modification of theleather substitute illustrated in Figure 1; all of the views shown inthe drawing lbeing slightly enlarged for the sake of clearness.-

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, I have shown my improved materialas consisting of a bottom layer l, formed of a relatively heavy coatingof latex or rubber upon which is placed a layer of burlap, canvas orsimilar coarse, woven, brous material 2. Upon the layer 2, an adhesivecoating 3, formed of latex or a composition having a hubber or latexcontent is placed, to the surface of which is appliedanother layer ofburlap or woven fibrous material 4. It is to be understood that as manylayers of burlap may be employed as the thickness and strength of theleather substitute may require. Where a relatively thin material issought, there need be only one layer of burlap.

The upper surface of layer 4 carries a casein adhesive 5, to which isapplied a coating or layer of ock 6. The ock, which is utilized for theexterior covering or coating, may be dyed to any desired tint, shade orcolor prior to its application to the adhesive layer to provide a highlyornamental appearance for the finished product. In some cases, it may bedesiredv to omit the exterior facing of ock and subject the coated upperlayer to the action of dies to give the material an embossed appearance.

In Figure 2, I have shown a slightly modified composite material inwhich the lower rubber coating of the material illustrated in Figure 1is replaced with a casein adhesive 8, to which is applied a thin layerof ground cork or ground leather 1.

'Ihe modification shown in Figure 3 is also similar to the form shown inFigure 1 with the exception that the rubber coating l is replaced with arubber or latex adhesive l0, to' which is applied a lateximpregnatedpaper 9.

The three forms of material illustrated do not substantially vary in.strength and durability but merely in pliability or exibility. Thus,`the form illustrated in Figure 1, having a rubber or latex coating onthe bottom will give more exibility at the bottom. Next in pliability isthe form shown in Figure 2 in which ground cork or ground leather isused. In the form illustrated in Figure 3, the paper with the latexcontent imparts the` most rigidity to the material. Thus, in themanufacture of mens belts, Gladstone bags, or

certain types of loose leaf book covers, a more rigid material may berequired than in brief cases, shoe uppers, bill folds or the like.

tation to add rigidity to said composite material. 10

2. A composite leather substitute comprising a foundation formed. of aplurality of coextensive layers of burlap united by a rubber depositedfrom latex, a facing of flock adhesively secured to one side of saidfoundation and a layer of iatex impregnated paper adhesiyely securedtothe other side of the foundation to add rigidity to said compositematerial.

LEO E. OLINER.

